The Railway Man

A great story all based on true events. The film gets of to a slow start, but once it picks up my was addicted. I highly recommend this movie it is well worth watching.

A bit disjointed (jumping between past and present) and poorly cast (Colin and Nicole) in my view. A missed opportunity.

This film tells the story of a man suffering from the trauma of being imprisoned by the Japanese in WWII whilst trying to build the Burma/Siam railway. Not only does it tell of the suffering then, but also how the suffering for Lomax (Colin Firth) continued into his life in England into the 1980s. He is unable to live with the mental and physical abuse he was meted whilst imprisoned and he still finds himself in his torturous cell despite finding the woman he loves. It is a visceral yet simple film and faithful portrays two aspects of our history: how the suffering in this affair was merciless, and how so many men suffered from undiagnosed trauma following the world wars. I am unconcerned with what others have thought to be a simplified script or a use of clunky flashback. I felt the flashback were always purposeful, wholly relevant and never grandiose. It is a simple story that creates suspense but never at the expense of losing the essential theme of the vulnerability of human dignity and fully recognises the power of forgiveness.